Another year, another Red Shield done and dusted (for me anyway). I really appreciate Bunnings' willingness to let us park ourselves outside of their front door for 3 weekends in a row to collect. It is a great location for us but our presence brings no benefit to them I wouldn't have thought. So their generosity is much appreciated.
I found myself again this year pondering the success of the Bunnings model. People come and go in their hundreds and what's interesting is the large number of kids who go along. Bunnings are smart. They cater for the kids. There is Rudy the one man band and the gentleman who blows up balloons. They wander the store entertaining the children. And then they hand out flags and blow up hammers, do face painting etc.
So, to my title 'WWBD'. Nothing to do with the Western Bulldogs (great win Hawks!). It is a rip off of the 'WWJD' "What would Jesus do'. 'WWBD - What would Bunnings Do'.
If Bunnings were a church, what would they do. What can we learn from Bunnings that would make us better at being 'church'.
1) It's obvious that there is no discrimination. One of the things that is obvious is that people of all races, skin colour, personal beliefs, income etc etc feel comfortable shopping at Bunnings. For all of its' inclusive protestations, the church is not particularly inclusive. Our beliefs, and maybe the way we have majored on the theology at the expense of seeing the person, have done a pretty good job of alienating large numbers of people. Without wanting to get into a uniform debate, what we wear in church must be pretty off putting to the average person too.
2) The staff are helpful and know their stuff. There is a person at the entrance who often greets but who answers questions. People come there with a need and there are staff who help meet their need. Around the store there are staff ready to assist.
The church has a history of welcomers at the front door and some who make it their duty to assist within the building. But my experience is that too few make it their business to be on the look out for those who need to be made feel welcome and even fewer of us who know our stuff when it comes to meeting basic human needs. I'm included in that number. Last year at Preston Salvos, we did a pilot program called 'STAMP'. It was good to learn more about the needs of people and now we could assist as well as inform us of the programs available in the Salvos to help deal with those issues. I hope it moves beyond a pilot program. Must talk to Jason about that.
3) The kids receive special attention. Attendance at Bunnings can be a fun time for both parents and children.
4) It's easy to get into a Bunnings building. The entrances to churches are often foreboding and not very welcoming. And that's even before new folk get to meet the church people who might be even more foreboding!
There's probably many more. And Bunnings is far from a church model. The DIY craze has made Bunnings a very popular place to go whereas church isn't. God is not exactly on the nose but most people don't find 'religion' to be high on their priority list. Also, once a person leaves Bunnings the relationship ends. Church is involved in serious life issues that are much more complicated than finding the right size screws.
There are many challenges to the church but sometimes, spending a lot of time outside of somewhere like Bunnings, watching how it all works, can remind us that some models in the business world operate on principals that cross over into the church world. And often, we do those things badly in the church and can learn from business. WWBD?
Monday, May 30, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Don't believe everything you hear
"...the Ammonite leaders warned Hanun,... "Do you for a minute suppose that David is honoring your father by sending you comforters?"" 2 Sam 10:2
David, hearing of Hanun's Dad's death wanted to send him condolences. But Hanun's Ammonite leaders said, don't believe him. He is just sizing up the city.
So, instead of accepting David's gesture Hanun seized David's men and cut off half of their beards, humiliating them. Then, of course, fearing David's retribution he made things worse by spending 37 1/2 tons of silver to hire 33,000 fighting men to protect himself. And they lost anyway resulting in disastrous consequences for the Ammonite people.
When we take advice from people we really need to know who they are and what makes them tick. Are they reliable or prone to gossip? Are they power hungry? Are they just plain dumb?
Acting on wrong advice can have terrible consequences, maybe not quite as severe as for the Ammonites but nevertheless, consequences that cause pain and suffering often spanning generations.
God, help me to be wise in choosing what advice to accept and what advice to reject.
David, hearing of Hanun's Dad's death wanted to send him condolences. But Hanun's Ammonite leaders said, don't believe him. He is just sizing up the city.
So, instead of accepting David's gesture Hanun seized David's men and cut off half of their beards, humiliating them. Then, of course, fearing David's retribution he made things worse by spending 37 1/2 tons of silver to hire 33,000 fighting men to protect himself. And they lost anyway resulting in disastrous consequences for the Ammonite people.
When we take advice from people we really need to know who they are and what makes them tick. Are they reliable or prone to gossip? Are they power hungry? Are they just plain dumb?
Acting on wrong advice can have terrible consequences, maybe not quite as severe as for the Ammonites but nevertheless, consequences that cause pain and suffering often spanning generations.
God, help me to be wise in choosing what advice to accept and what advice to reject.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Reaching the end of the rope
"They came, tons of them, bringing along the paraplegic, the blind, the maimed, the mute—all sorts of people in need—and more or less threw them down at Jesus' feet to see what he would do with them. He healed them." Matt 15:30
I've written before about the faith and determination of these people bringing the sick to Jesus. Jesus had climbed a mountain yet tons of people still struggled up with their handicapped family & friends. But it's the next bit that caught my interest today. They virtually chucked the sick at Jesus' feet to see what he would do with them.
You get a sense of absolute frustration here. These people have reached the end of their rope. They have family & friends with handicaps and have reached the point of desperation. So they struggle up a mountain for one last effort to find a way out of their seemingly hopeless situations.
What did Jesus do with them? He healed them!
This is the Jesus we worship. He is the God of last resort at times for people. It would be good if we sought him out at the start, not when we are desperate. Yet, he is the God that does stuff that no human can!
I have been watching General Bond's welcome meeting today (as you do at work!). It's only 2hrs 20mins long if you have the time.
http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-dynamic-arrays/EF83AFD7532CF1218025784F0034CE06?openDocument
At the end of the meeting the General uses a well known song which I have sung many times, but in light of my reading today these words jumped out
At the moment of my weakness,
When my need for pow'r is plain,
And my own strength is exhausted once again,
Then my Lord has made provision
For the day of my despair,
And His precious Holy Spirit hears my prayer, my prayer,
Then my Lord has made provision
For the day of my despair,
And His precious Holy Spirit hears my prayer.
God made a provision for the day of despair for those on the mountain all those years ago and today he brings provision for our despair and his Holy Spirit hears our prayer.
Thank you for being the God who solves the impossible and delights in being there for those who have run out of hope.
I've written before about the faith and determination of these people bringing the sick to Jesus. Jesus had climbed a mountain yet tons of people still struggled up with their handicapped family & friends. But it's the next bit that caught my interest today. They virtually chucked the sick at Jesus' feet to see what he would do with them.
You get a sense of absolute frustration here. These people have reached the end of their rope. They have family & friends with handicaps and have reached the point of desperation. So they struggle up a mountain for one last effort to find a way out of their seemingly hopeless situations.
What did Jesus do with them? He healed them!
This is the Jesus we worship. He is the God of last resort at times for people. It would be good if we sought him out at the start, not when we are desperate. Yet, he is the God that does stuff that no human can!
I have been watching General Bond's welcome meeting today (as you do at work!). It's only 2hrs 20mins long if you have the time.
http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-dynamic-arrays/EF83AFD7532CF1218025784F0034CE06?openDocument
At the end of the meeting the General uses a well known song which I have sung many times, but in light of my reading today these words jumped out
At the moment of my weakness,
When my need for pow'r is plain,
And my own strength is exhausted once again,
Then my Lord has made provision
For the day of my despair,
And His precious Holy Spirit hears my prayer, my prayer,
Then my Lord has made provision
For the day of my despair,
And His precious Holy Spirit hears my prayer.
God made a provision for the day of despair for those on the mountain all those years ago and today he brings provision for our despair and his Holy Spirit hears our prayer.
Thank you for being the God who solves the impossible and delights in being there for those who have run out of hope.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Isn't there another way?
Not a biblical blog today....
There are many things I don't understand. I don't understand the AFL's match review panel and it's anti Hawthorn viewpoint (ok. I know I am biased). I don't understand the Army's headquarters decision making. I don't understand the Gillard government's carbon tax policy. It seems ridiculous to me. And I don't understand inflation....
Today the CPI figure was released and our inflation rate for the year to March was 3.3%. The cost of fuel went up 8.8%, vegetables up 16%, fruit up 14%, pharmaceuticals up 12.5%, deposit and loan facilities up 4.6%. In other words, the things that ordinary people need in order to live have gone up. And once Ms Gillard's carbon tax comes in, watch the electricity bills go up... again...
So, what are the economists saying. "Inflation is on the march. Put up interest rates." I'm not an economist and maybe a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic, but how does putting interest rates up help the majority of people. People still need to eat, educate their kids, buy pharmaceuticals. And, as many people have no choice but to live in outer suburbs with little or no public transport, thanks to decades of incompetent governments, they have to drive cars which use petrol. What is an interest rate rise going to do for them? Do they stop eating because their mortgage or rent has gone up, again?
If some people are still buying too many tv's or BMW's surely there is another way to cool demand. Why put up interest rates which hurts the vulnerable the most? It all seems rather unethical to me? What would be a Biblical solution? It's an interesting question. I doubt very much that God would choose to put up interest rates because the poor are very much at the forefront of his concerns.
I do believe that capitalism is the best of a bad bunch of options. But sometimes the policies of these highly paid public servants leave me shaking my head.
There are many things I don't understand. I don't understand the AFL's match review panel and it's anti Hawthorn viewpoint (ok. I know I am biased). I don't understand the Army's headquarters decision making. I don't understand the Gillard government's carbon tax policy. It seems ridiculous to me. And I don't understand inflation....
Today the CPI figure was released and our inflation rate for the year to March was 3.3%. The cost of fuel went up 8.8%, vegetables up 16%, fruit up 14%, pharmaceuticals up 12.5%, deposit and loan facilities up 4.6%. In other words, the things that ordinary people need in order to live have gone up. And once Ms Gillard's carbon tax comes in, watch the electricity bills go up... again...
So, what are the economists saying. "Inflation is on the march. Put up interest rates." I'm not an economist and maybe a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic, but how does putting interest rates up help the majority of people. People still need to eat, educate their kids, buy pharmaceuticals. And, as many people have no choice but to live in outer suburbs with little or no public transport, thanks to decades of incompetent governments, they have to drive cars which use petrol. What is an interest rate rise going to do for them? Do they stop eating because their mortgage or rent has gone up, again?
If some people are still buying too many tv's or BMW's surely there is another way to cool demand. Why put up interest rates which hurts the vulnerable the most? It all seems rather unethical to me? What would be a Biblical solution? It's an interesting question. I doubt very much that God would choose to put up interest rates because the poor are very much at the forefront of his concerns.
I do believe that capitalism is the best of a bad bunch of options. But sometimes the policies of these highly paid public servants leave me shaking my head.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Is deafness worse than the occult?
1 Sam 15:22-23 "Then Samuel said,
Do you think all God wants are sacrifices—
empty rituals just for show?
He wants you to listen to him!
Plain listening is the thing,
not staging a lavish religious production.
Not doing what God tells you
is far worse than fooling around in the occult."
I've often thought that the occult is really bad. And it is. But what about not listening to God? Bad? Yeah, maybe, but not that bad. This verse says it is far worse to not listen to God than to be involved in the occult.
In 1 Samuel 16, Samuel gets the word from God to go and anoint the next king. He has his own ideas about which son of Jesse might be the right one to be chosen. But the one who God wanted wasn't even in attendance at the worship event. If Samuel had not listened to God and failed to ask Jesse if he had more sons than those who were present, who would have ended up king? I doubt it would have been David. And that would have been disastrous.
Not listening to God is not just an act of disobedience it also results in us making wrong choices because we trust in our own wisdom instead of trusting in God.
Maybe not listening is worse than the occult after all.
Forgive me God for not placing the correct importance on stopping and listening for your guidance and direction.
Do you think all God wants are sacrifices—
empty rituals just for show?
He wants you to listen to him!
Plain listening is the thing,
not staging a lavish religious production.
Not doing what God tells you
is far worse than fooling around in the occult."
I've often thought that the occult is really bad. And it is. But what about not listening to God? Bad? Yeah, maybe, but not that bad. This verse says it is far worse to not listen to God than to be involved in the occult.
In 1 Samuel 16, Samuel gets the word from God to go and anoint the next king. He has his own ideas about which son of Jesse might be the right one to be chosen. But the one who God wanted wasn't even in attendance at the worship event. If Samuel had not listened to God and failed to ask Jesse if he had more sons than those who were present, who would have ended up king? I doubt it would have been David. And that would have been disastrous.
Not listening to God is not just an act of disobedience it also results in us making wrong choices because we trust in our own wisdom instead of trusting in God.
Maybe not listening is worse than the occult after all.
Forgive me God for not placing the correct importance on stopping and listening for your guidance and direction.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
What else can I learn from one of my favourite stories?
Today my reading was one of my favourites, one that I have blogged on before. It is the story of Hannah who was childless and promised God that if he would give her a child she would give the child back to God. And she did. She took Samuel to the temple and left him with the priest, Eli. And, of course, God blessed Hannah's devotion by giving her 5 more children.
In all of life's stories there are other people involved, others who are a part of the script. In this story there is Elkanah, Hannah's husband. These Old Testament times often seem brutal and the way in which women were treated often makes me squirm. But Elkanah, who also had another wife who did bear him children, obviously loved her deeply and showed a great deal of compassion towards her. He, I think, can take part of the credit for the outcome of the story. For without his love Hannah might have given up, or might have been totally ostracised because she hadn't given him children.
The other character is Eli the priest. I cringe at the first mention of Eli in this story. Hannah went to the temple to pray "Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably" (1 Sam 1:10). Eli's response? He accused her of being drunk. Great. Poor Hannah is already at her wits end and the priest's response is to accuse her of being drunk. To her credit Hannah didn't give him a mouthful back (I think I might have). And to Eli's credit, after hearing Hannah's explanation his attitude changed, although there is no record of an apology.
So what do I make of this great story today. Nothing earth shattering. Having persisted with reading this far you must be disappointed! Firstly, as with Elkanah, it is a must that we show compassion to innocent people. Who are the innocent in our society today? Or who in my circle of contacts is innocent? I am treating them with love and respect?
Secondly, am I guilty of being like Eli? Making judgments based on what I see and not what is really going on. How rude and insensitive of Eli to speak to Hannah the way he did. There is no excuse. Who, today, will I come into contact with and make and ill informed initial judgement? How about finding out some facts first rather than being judgemental as a first response.
In all of life's stories there are other people involved, others who are a part of the script. In this story there is Elkanah, Hannah's husband. These Old Testament times often seem brutal and the way in which women were treated often makes me squirm. But Elkanah, who also had another wife who did bear him children, obviously loved her deeply and showed a great deal of compassion towards her. He, I think, can take part of the credit for the outcome of the story. For without his love Hannah might have given up, or might have been totally ostracised because she hadn't given him children.
The other character is Eli the priest. I cringe at the first mention of Eli in this story. Hannah went to the temple to pray "Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably" (1 Sam 1:10). Eli's response? He accused her of being drunk. Great. Poor Hannah is already at her wits end and the priest's response is to accuse her of being drunk. To her credit Hannah didn't give him a mouthful back (I think I might have). And to Eli's credit, after hearing Hannah's explanation his attitude changed, although there is no record of an apology.
So what do I make of this great story today. Nothing earth shattering. Having persisted with reading this far you must be disappointed! Firstly, as with Elkanah, it is a must that we show compassion to innocent people. Who are the innocent in our society today? Or who in my circle of contacts is innocent? I am treating them with love and respect?
Secondly, am I guilty of being like Eli? Making judgments based on what I see and not what is really going on. How rude and insensitive of Eli to speak to Hannah the way he did. There is no excuse. Who, today, will I come into contact with and make and ill informed initial judgement? How about finding out some facts first rather than being judgemental as a first response.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
No exclamation mark?!
Jesus said, "You have no idea what you are asking." Mark 10:38
James & John have just asked Jesus if they would be awarded the highest place of honour in glory. What an outrageous question. How selfish.
Having read Jesus' responses to the Pharisees and other religious leaders I would have expected him to explode. Yet he doesn't. There isn't even an excalmation mark next to what he has said. It seems as though his response is calm and measured, even gentle.
Maybe his response of "you have no idea what you are asking", explains it. It seems it was an almost innocent question which they had not thought through.
Jesus' response was totally different to that of the other disciples when they heard the conversation. They got into a fight with James & John.
Jesus has incredible wisdom when dealing with people. He knows when to be angry and when to be gentle. We don't. Like the other disciples we often end up dealing with things in totally the wrong way.
Help me God to have the wisdom to choose the right response to every situation I face, not to choose the irresponsible and inappropriate way.
James & John have just asked Jesus if they would be awarded the highest place of honour in glory. What an outrageous question. How selfish.
Having read Jesus' responses to the Pharisees and other religious leaders I would have expected him to explode. Yet he doesn't. There isn't even an excalmation mark next to what he has said. It seems as though his response is calm and measured, even gentle.
Maybe his response of "you have no idea what you are asking", explains it. It seems it was an almost innocent question which they had not thought through.
Jesus' response was totally different to that of the other disciples when they heard the conversation. They got into a fight with James & John.
Jesus has incredible wisdom when dealing with people. He knows when to be angry and when to be gentle. We don't. Like the other disciples we often end up dealing with things in totally the wrong way.
Help me God to have the wisdom to choose the right response to every situation I face, not to choose the irresponsible and inappropriate way.
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